When the rain comes in sideways and it's dark by mid-afternoon, these are the plans that keep kids warm and busy: children's theater, museum workshops, family concerts and exhibitions built for kids. The list updates itself, soonest first, so there's always something coming up under a roof.
Danish artist Thomas Dambo, known for the giant trolls hidden in nature around Copenhagen's western suburbs, brings his trolls inside ARKEN. The exhibition is full of troll sculptures made from recycled materials, with a playful look at what trash is and what it could become.
After the galleries, kids can build their own troll in a dedicated workshop. It suits curious kids who like making things as much as looking.
A big new library exhibition built around The Comet Is Coming, the Moomin story where the world teeters on the edge of disaster and the Moomins find their way through it together. It is about friendship, joy and coping when things feel uncertain.
It suits families who already know the Moomins, and kids old enough to talk about a story with a bit of worry in it.
A puzzle game played inside Ukendt Land, the National Museum's exhibition on expeditions to far-off places. Families follow explorer Carsten Niebuhr, scanning a key at stations along the way: decode hieroglyphs, measure a pyramid with his instrument, hunt for a hidden autograph in Persepolis.
There are no points. Kids do the stops they like, then free a djinn trapped in a chest from the expedition at the last one.
De små synger is Denmark's favorite children's songbook, and this family musical brings its pages to life. Emil falls asleep to his grandmother's lullaby and wakes in a dream land full of characters from the songs: the baker on Nørregade, the ten little cyclists, Ole in his new car.
It's a sing-along show, so it suits kids who already know the songs from home.
Two tree keepers are handed a small seed to plant, tend and watch grow. Their daily routines fill up with big feelings, and a gentle, comic rivalry grows between them as the tree quietly gets bigger and stronger.
It is a calm, thoughtful show rather than a loud one, with room for laughter along the way. It suits small kids ready to sit and watch, and holds the grown-ups too.
Folketeatret's Fyrtøjet turns H.C. Andersen's The Tinderbox into a colorful musical mixing theater, streetdance, 3D animation and new songs. The story stays as kids know it: the poor soldier coming home, the witch, the dogs with eyes as big as teacups, the Round Tower and a princess dreaming of freedom.
It also becomes a tribute to mothers and sons at war, a better fit for school-age kids than toddlers.
Folk og Røvere i Kardemomme By is a family play with songs and a Danish family tradition since 1982, now celebrating its 45th anniversary. Kids meet strict Aunt Sofie, kind Police Chief Bastian and the three robbers Kasper, Jesper and Jonatan, who tiptoe around town stealing and stirring up trouble.
It is best for kids who follow Danish and enjoy a bit of mischief on stage.
Mesters Jul is a puppet play based on Thomas Winding's stories about Mester, a much-loved little dog. It's Christmas on Frikadellevej: Mester wants to play, but Thomas is busy decorating the tree and making porridge for the nisse.
The story is about the season's most important gift, time together. It suits small kids who know Mester already and ones meeting him for the first time.
A puppet show of the Brothers Grimm folk tale about a table that sets itself, freely retold by puppeteer Karina Nielsen of Teater AstaBasta. She tells the story with puppets, objects and music.
The narration is in Danish and carries much of the story, so it suits kids who follow Danish best.
Børnemuseet in Frederiksberg turns its creative workshops into Christmas gift workshops. Kids decorate boxes and fridge magnets, paint jewelry trays or a porcelain mug, and decorate T-shirts, tote bags, pencil cases and pot holders.
In the soap workshop they cast scented soap or mix their own lip balm in a small glass jar. Each activity is paid with the museum's activity coins, so kids choose what to try.
Det Kongelige Teater's Christmas ballet: George Balanchine's 1954 version of The Nutcracker, with Tchaikovsky's score played live and a stage full of child dancers.
Marie gets a nutcracker from her godfather, and at midnight it leads her past dangerous mice, dancing snowflakes and waltzing flowers to the Sugar Plum Fairy. Best for kids who can sit still through a classic ballet.
Kids turn detective inside DR Byen, the home of Danish broadcaster DR. Master detective Kristian is busy on Ramasjang, so he needs children to work out which Ramasjang villain is behind the strange goings-on in the building.
With a guide, kids follow clues through DR's corridors, solve riddles and send their answer straight to Kristian. It suits Ramasjang fans who follow Danish easily.
Teater Patrasket's puppet and music version of Tage Danielsson's Swedish Christmas classic that Swedes watch on TV every Christmas Eve. Karl Bertil has a holiday job at the post office and sees some people get piles of presents while others get none, so he delivers the rich families' parcels to the poor.
Told with puppets and music. Suits kids who can follow a story with a moral twist.
A calm, intimate classical concert made for small children. Kids get close to the musician and hear, and see, how a classical instrument sounds and looks up close, with each concert built around a different instrument.
The pace is slow and the room is relaxed: there is space for curiosity, and nobody expects a toddler to sit still the whole time.
Early on Christmas Eve, Cirkeline sits in her matchbox watching the stars. She and her mouse friends Frederik and Ingolf get ready: wrapping presents, braiding paper hearts, singing and playing. They head into the snowy forest for a Christmas tree and meet a sneaky cat, funny forest elves and Knud the snow mouse with the red nose.
Teater V's yearly Christmas show for the youngest kids and their grown-ups.
DR's children's channel brings its Christmas show to the big concert hall. The Ramasjang hosts and characters, Bamse included, meet in the Ramasjang cabin while DR Spirekoret, dressed as elves, make mischief on stage and snow comes down.
Expect songs from the TV Christmas calendar series, carols and Christmas hits with a swinging band. It suits kids who already know Ramasjang from TV, since it all happens in Danish.
A stage version of Ole Lund Kirkegaard's classic Danish children's book. Topper finds a magic pencil, and there is a yellow rhinoceros on the second floor of the old house by the harbor. Add an angry police chief who stomps and shouts, and the floor can't take it.
André Andersen's energetic production is played in Danish, so it suits kids who follow Danish well or already know the story.
Pianist and singer Anna Holm Johansen leads kids and their grown-ups through well-known Danish children's songs, with everyone singing together to live piano. It's a show you join in, not one you sit and watch.
Best for families with some Danish, since the songs are all in Danish. Kids who don't know the words yet can pick up the tunes as they go.
When the rain comes in sideways and it's dark by mid-afternoon, these are the plans that keep kids warm and busy: children's theater, museum workshops, family concerts and exhibitions built for kids. The list updates itself, soonest first, so there's always something coming up under a roof.
Danish artist Thomas Dambo, known for the giant trolls hidden in nature around Copenhagen's western suburbs, brings his trolls inside ARKEN. The exhibition is full of troll sculptures made from recycled materials, with a playful look at what trash is and what it could become.
After the galleries, kids can build their own troll in a dedicated workshop. It suits curious kids who like making things as much as looking.
A big new library exhibition built around The Comet Is Coming, the Moomin story where the world teeters on the edge of disaster and the Moomins find their way through it together. It is about friendship, joy and coping when things feel uncertain.
It suits families who already know the Moomins, and kids old enough to talk about a story with a bit of worry in it.
A puzzle game played inside Ukendt Land, the National Museum's exhibition on expeditions to far-off places. Families follow explorer Carsten Niebuhr, scanning a key at stations along the way: decode hieroglyphs, measure a pyramid with his instrument, hunt for a hidden autograph in Persepolis.
There are no points. Kids do the stops they like, then free a djinn trapped in a chest from the expedition at the last one.
De små synger is Denmark's favorite children's songbook, and this family musical brings its pages to life. Emil falls asleep to his grandmother's lullaby and wakes in a dream land full of characters from the songs: the baker on Nørregade, the ten little cyclists, Ole in his new car.
It's a sing-along show, so it suits kids who already know the songs from home.
Two tree keepers are handed a small seed to plant, tend and watch grow. Their daily routines fill up with big feelings, and a gentle, comic rivalry grows between them as the tree quietly gets bigger and stronger.
It is a calm, thoughtful show rather than a loud one, with room for laughter along the way. It suits small kids ready to sit and watch, and holds the grown-ups too.
Folketeatret's Fyrtøjet turns H.C. Andersen's The Tinderbox into a colorful musical mixing theater, streetdance, 3D animation and new songs. The story stays as kids know it: the poor soldier coming home, the witch, the dogs with eyes as big as teacups, the Round Tower and a princess dreaming of freedom.
It also becomes a tribute to mothers and sons at war, a better fit for school-age kids than toddlers.
Folk og Røvere i Kardemomme By is a family play with songs and a Danish family tradition since 1982, now celebrating its 45th anniversary. Kids meet strict Aunt Sofie, kind Police Chief Bastian and the three robbers Kasper, Jesper and Jonatan, who tiptoe around town stealing and stirring up trouble.
It is best for kids who follow Danish and enjoy a bit of mischief on stage.
Mesters Jul is a puppet play based on Thomas Winding's stories about Mester, a much-loved little dog. It's Christmas on Frikadellevej: Mester wants to play, but Thomas is busy decorating the tree and making porridge for the nisse.
The story is about the season's most important gift, time together. It suits small kids who know Mester already and ones meeting him for the first time.
A puppet show of the Brothers Grimm folk tale about a table that sets itself, freely retold by puppeteer Karina Nielsen of Teater AstaBasta. She tells the story with puppets, objects and music.
The narration is in Danish and carries much of the story, so it suits kids who follow Danish best.
Børnemuseet in Frederiksberg turns its creative workshops into Christmas gift workshops. Kids decorate boxes and fridge magnets, paint jewelry trays or a porcelain mug, and decorate T-shirts, tote bags, pencil cases and pot holders.
In the soap workshop they cast scented soap or mix their own lip balm in a small glass jar. Each activity is paid with the museum's activity coins, so kids choose what to try.
Det Kongelige Teater's Christmas ballet: George Balanchine's 1954 version of The Nutcracker, with Tchaikovsky's score played live and a stage full of child dancers.
Marie gets a nutcracker from her godfather, and at midnight it leads her past dangerous mice, dancing snowflakes and waltzing flowers to the Sugar Plum Fairy. Best for kids who can sit still through a classic ballet.
Kids turn detective inside DR Byen, the home of Danish broadcaster DR. Master detective Kristian is busy on Ramasjang, so he needs children to work out which Ramasjang villain is behind the strange goings-on in the building.
With a guide, kids follow clues through DR's corridors, solve riddles and send their answer straight to Kristian. It suits Ramasjang fans who follow Danish easily.
Teater Patrasket's puppet and music version of Tage Danielsson's Swedish Christmas classic that Swedes watch on TV every Christmas Eve. Karl Bertil has a holiday job at the post office and sees some people get piles of presents while others get none, so he delivers the rich families' parcels to the poor.
Told with puppets and music. Suits kids who can follow a story with a moral twist.
A calm, intimate classical concert made for small children. Kids get close to the musician and hear, and see, how a classical instrument sounds and looks up close, with each concert built around a different instrument.
The pace is slow and the room is relaxed: there is space for curiosity, and nobody expects a toddler to sit still the whole time.
Early on Christmas Eve, Cirkeline sits in her matchbox watching the stars. She and her mouse friends Frederik and Ingolf get ready: wrapping presents, braiding paper hearts, singing and playing. They head into the snowy forest for a Christmas tree and meet a sneaky cat, funny forest elves and Knud the snow mouse with the red nose.
Teater V's yearly Christmas show for the youngest kids and their grown-ups.
DR's children's channel brings its Christmas show to the big concert hall. The Ramasjang hosts and characters, Bamse included, meet in the Ramasjang cabin while DR Spirekoret, dressed as elves, make mischief on stage and snow comes down.
Expect songs from the TV Christmas calendar series, carols and Christmas hits with a swinging band. It suits kids who already know Ramasjang from TV, since it all happens in Danish.
A stage version of Ole Lund Kirkegaard's classic Danish children's book. Topper finds a magic pencil, and there is a yellow rhinoceros on the second floor of the old house by the harbor. Add an angry police chief who stomps and shouts, and the floor can't take it.
André Andersen's energetic production is played in Danish, so it suits kids who follow Danish well or already know the story.
Pianist and singer Anna Holm Johansen leads kids and their grown-ups through well-known Danish children's songs, with everyone singing together to live piano. It's a show you join in, not one you sit and watch.
Best for families with some Danish, since the songs are all in Danish. Kids who don't know the words yet can pick up the tunes as they go.
